Part 3

Chapter 10

Andros rolled over in bed with a groan as his alarm went off. He had dreamt of his former team again for the sixth time in the last four months. Why didn't their presence just leave his mind alone? They were dead but it was like they were alive; when he dreamt of them he had the same searching feeling he had when he dreamt of Karone. Sitting up in bed he pulled his jacket on as he fingered his rings which he had not taken out other then to keep his skin from growing over them. Nor had he explained to his new team what they represented.

Sighing as he stood up and brushed his hair before pulling it up for the day. Another day and most likely another battle would happen. That's just how it went lately since he had reluctantly joined forces with the earth team.

Walking to the mess hall he found the four of them talking excitedly about what was going to happen during the day. He hoped they would continue and ignore him while he got his usual hot drink. That was as usual not going to happen seeing as, as soon as Ashley saw him she was draping her arms over his shoulders. He had to admit she was a caring person but she didn't always read his emotions the right way and right now he just wanted to be left alone.

"Good morning Andros," she exclaimed brightly, "today is my birthday and we are all going down to the park to celebrate. I was wondering if you would come with us?"

So that explained her perkier then normal attitude he sighed, "I don't know…" he broke off, "I think I have some stuff to do that needs to be taken care of."

"Oh," she sighed, "alright but if you have a few moments your always welcome." Turning away she started to rejoin the group

He paused for a minute before turning again, "Ashley? What time is your party?" he stumbled over the word party, the few times they had celebrated his birthday it was a celebration in fact party had a different meaning on KO-35 then it did on earth.

"We are going to the park at one and celebrating just among us there before going to my house for a cook-out at about five." She said her face brightening with a huger then normal smile.

"Alright, I will try to be there." He nodded as he grabbed his drink and left the room. He tried not to be so distant with them but he couldn't help it at times especially after dreaming about his team.

They knew about Karone so he wasn't so apprehensive after dreaming about her but he still hadn't told them how close he was to his first team. In fact to this day they had not seen one file on them seeing as he had locked it all out of their security reach.

Walking into the engine room he looked around to see if any of them had followed him down, they hadn't so he opened the secret compartment that held the cryo chamber.

Once inside he laid his hand on the cold surface he began talking as he did each time he visited here, "Hey Zhane, I'm back as I promised. I promised when I took those four on board that I would keep you apprised of how it was all going. I am trying to hide my feelings but the girl who I gave the yellow morpher to, I am starting to fall for her; I don't want to hurt her though. I am worried Zhane and I wish you were awake so you could be goofy and just give me some guidance as to how to handle the situation." He kept his hand there as if he was listening for a few minutes but soon removed his hand and mouthing goodbye to his friend.

Going to his room he pulled out the inventory lists at which he started working on what would be needed the next time he had to go for supplies. As he was working he knew from hearing the others talk while he was getting his drink that he had to get Ashley something. It was then that his eyes fell upon the jewelry box that Esiila had given to him

Flashback

Andros was working on some paperwork in the library. He had just passed the marker and was now fourteen but he found it no excuse to relax. He had two more years till his graduation and knowledge ways he was still behind the others. His training was pretty far along and at the rate he was learning he had no doubt that baring any unforeseeable injuries he would be at the right level for a fifteen year old trainee by the time the marker came around next.

"Andros?" a voice called out as Esiila entered the library. She was here on a break from her mission as were the rest of the team. When they left next Azalia would leave with them and in a few months time Zhane would as well.

"Yes Esiila?" he leaned back in his chair and looked at her form approaching him where she laid a hand on his shoulder and squeezed.

"Andros, as you know you legally just turned fourteen. If your mother were alive she would have presented you with a necklace to one day give the girl you want to marry. As you know it is the first step to the promise of marriage." She paused as she played with her own necklace, "Andros, I want you to have this, I bought it for you because I knew you should have one."

Glancing at her he opened the small box and nearly dropped it to see the beauty of the necklace, "Esiila, I can't take this, it must have cost you several paychecks as well as some of your monthly allowance from your parents' estate."

She nodded, "It cost me three paychecks but don't worry about it. You are to be the red ranger, you should give your promised something fancy. I know if this necklace were to come from your mother it would only be half as expensive at most but you are worth it." She kissed his cheek as she stood up, "You will know who to give it to fate will guide you to the girl that you are fated marry just I ask you keep this safe from any harm."

End Flashback

"Fate will guide me to the one I am to marry?" he asked himself as a tear ran down his cheek as he picked the box up, "Anything but that, I know I said I wanted a girl that wasn't from KO-35; but why the one who reminds me of Esiila?" He tried to set it down and think of something else he could give her but no matter what he did he always looked at the box sitting there with its rare and precious amber gem glistening in the dim light of his room. "Fine he nodded, I guess I have been skirting around the edges a bit but what do I say when I give her this. I have never told any of them about dating practices on KO-35. Will I scare her away when I tell her the meaning of this necklace?" He asked himself.

The answer came to him as if whispered in his mind, "You don't need to tell her a thing until she is ready. Just giving her the necklace will be a sign of your love for her and she will feel the love that she already has for you returned with more love attached." Sighing he set the box down and returned to work.

LLLL

He stood by his locker as he watched Ashley take her helmet off. He had just silently declared his love for her and she had been transformed into Astronama. Was she stuck as Astronama or when he saw her face would she be his normal perky Ashley again? The helmet came off and Cassie rejoiced to see her friend back to normal. What shocked him was the first thing she did was fish out from underneath her ranger outfit the necklace looking at it she smiled at him.

Sitting down a few minutes later he began filing the report on that day's battle as he had for every other one prior. He was half through when he door alarm rang. "Come in," he called and the door opened to reveal Ashley dressed in a knee length skirt and a yellow tee shirt.

"Andros?" she called as she entered the room to see him working, "Andros, come on we have the rest of my birthday to attend to. Did you think that just because it is at my home you weren't invited?"

"No I just wanted to file this report as soon as possible and…" he was interrupted as she kissed his forehead

"And your nervous about meeting my parents right?" she asked with a giggle, "Come on silly face they will love you."

"All right what do I need to bring," he stood up as he finished the last sentence in his report."

"Umm well we have a pool so maybe those swim trunks I know that TJ gave you and a towel. Oh and of course some of the civilian clothes we got you." Ashley said walking towards and standing near the door as Andros stood up and went to his closet she slipped out.

A few minutes later Andros emerged dressed in khaki shorts and a red tank top with a white stripe across the chest. In a bag he had a towel and red swim trunks, "I guess I am ready," he shrugged and looked a bit reserved as he followed her to the launch bay.

When they got there he looked around not seeing the others around, "Where are the…?" he asked as she interrupted

"They said they will come down in a bit, they have to get some things for the party." She explained to him as she leaned her head on his shoulder.

LLLL

As they arrived at her house Andros looked around. She lived in a good sized house, it was bigger then the house his parents had had but small compared to the estates held by his team's families. This was the size of house he wanted to own when he settled down to start his family, not too small that his children would all share one room but not so big that the house would house a complete staff and most definitely still be managed by two people.

The door swung open and five people came out onto the porch. "Ashley honey, you finally arrived, we have been waiting all day for you to come home for this party."

"Hey Mom," Ashley smiled and as she came down on the steps they met and hugged. Turning to Andros she smiled, "Andros this is my mom, Kaitlyn, my dad, Lawrence, you have met my brother Jeff and these are my twin sisters Eliana and Daphne."

Lawrence looked at his daughter, "Ashley who I this?"

"Dad this is my…" she looked to Andros, "my new boyfriend." She stated

Lawrence crossed his arms, "Andros, how old are you?"

"Umm, I am eighteen and a half. He stated getting a bad feeling from Ashley's father if she wasn't holding onto him he would probably be halfway back to the ship by now.

Lawrence got bright in the face, "Ashley what have I told you about dating older boys. Why couldn't you have just stayed with Carlos? He was a very nice boy."

"Dad! Please, Andros is my boyfriend and nothing you can do can change that. Carlos and I have been over and done with since the beginning of the school year." Ashley clung tighter to his arm.

"Well, I will let it slide for tonight but you and I will be having a talk about appropriate behavior around my daughter. I will tell you now that if I ever catch you laying a hand on her you will be forbidden to see her again is that clear?" Lawrence blurted out and Andros just nodded.

"Yes sir it is perfectly clear, I want you to know I don't have and will never have any ill wish against your daughter." Andros stated

"Lawrence honey, why don't we let Ashley and Andros go inside so she can introduce him to her grandparents and aunts and uncles." Kaitlyn said pulling her husband aside

As Andros walked next to Ashley and mouthed, "Extended family?" and she just nodded.

Soon after walking through the doors they got bombarded by aunts' and uncles' and her grandparents'. Ashley quickly introduced Andros to everyone as they made their way through the crowd.

On the other side Andros looked at Ashley as she led him to the back porch and the porch swing, "I am sort of glad I never had a family like that growing up." He grinned

"Andros did you ever smile before you met us?" Ashley asked looking into his eyes.

"I used to lot's but after you joined the team I smiled for the first time in two years. I was too caught up to realize I hadn't smiled since the fall of my planet." He explained and seeing the look on her face he guessed her next question would be about his childhood which he had skirted around till now.

"I never really knew my extended family; I came from a family that worked on heavy machinery. I had two uncles who died when I was really young. My dad died when I was ten and my mother followed him to his grave. I have technically been an orphan for eight years although I was saved by the leader of the power ranger organization on KO-35 before I could be given orphan status." He told her his early childhood leaving everything out about the others which he knew he wasn't ready to tell about yet.

She looked at hi and traced her finger along his cheek, "You never told me that you were an orphan. This must be so hard my forcing you along when you've never had this. I am such an idiot." She said blushing slightly

"No really it's alright, I like it. I want to get to know a large family. In fact growing up I was so determined to date a girl from a large family. I think it was so she would have family enough to spare for me." Andros said smiling as he brushed her hair out of her face.

She jumped over and hugged him, "Oh Andros!" she giggled, "Every time we spend any time together I fall more in love with you. you seem so quiet and reserved on the outside but the more I fall in love with you the more I see that inside you have the most playful spirit that only wants to fly."

He gazed down in sadness, "I have my reasons, just trust me that when I am ready I will tell you alright?" he stood up and clutched the railing, "I am still healing inside although you have helped me recover from some of my grief just by being such a good friend."

Ashley looked at him with a smile and was about to say something when Justin popped out the door, "Hey Andros! Ashley your mom wants you to come in so they can begin the party before your father stats the grill." Ashley grinned as she took his hand and led him back inside.